scholarly journals PiFlow: A Biocompatible Low-Cost Programmable Dynamic Flow Pumping System Utilizing a Raspberry Pi Zero and Commercial Piezoelectric Pumps

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Kassis ◽  
Paola M. Perez ◽  
Chloe J. W. Yang ◽  
Luis R. Soenksen ◽  
David L. Trumper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Dynamic Flow ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Use Of Time ◽  
Pumping System ◽  
Cellular Environment ◽  
Cell Culture Systems ◽  
Peristaltic Pumps ◽  
3D Printed

AbstractWith the rise of research utilizing microphysiological systems (MPSs), the need for tools that enable the physiological mimicking of the relevant cellular environment is vital. The limited ability to reproduce crucial features of the microenvironment, such as surrounding fluid flow and dynamic changes in biochemical stimuli, severely limits the types of experiments that can be carried out. Current equipment to achieve this, such as syringe and peristaltic pumps, is expensive, large, difficult to program and has limited potential for scalability. Here, we present a new pumping platform that is open-source, low-cost, modular, scalable, fully-programmable and easy to assemble that can be incorporated into cell culture systems to better recapitulate physiological environments. By controlling two commercially available piezoelectric pumps using a Raspberry Pi Zero microcontroller, the system is capable of producing arbitrary dynamic flow profiles with reliable flow rates ranging from 1 to 3,000 µL/min as specified by an easily programmable Python-based script. We validated the accuracy of the flow rates, the use of time-varying profiles, and the practicality of the system by creating repeatable dynamic concentration profiles using a 3D-printed static micromixer.

scholarly journals PiFlow: A biocompatible low-cost programmable dynamic flow pumping system utilizing a Raspberry Pi Zero and commercial piezoelectric pumps

HardwareX ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e00034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Kassis ◽  
Paola M. Perez ◽  
Chloe J.W. Yang ◽  
Luis R. Soenksen ◽  
David L. Trumper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Dynamic Flow ◽  
Pumping System

Prototyping and Simulated Analysis of Autonomous Swarm-Bots

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maulikkumar Dhameliya ◽  
Sidharth Sher ◽  
Souma Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
System A ◽  
Simulated Environment ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Modular Platform ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Small Form Factor ◽  
Rate Of Success ◽  
Simulated Analysis

Teams of small (mm-to-cm scale) robots, often known as swarm-bots, can provide unique functionality owing to their small form factor, distributed sensing capabilities, resilience to disruptions and agent-loss, and likely low cost. Such swarm-bots are being increasingly touted to support various indoor surveillance, hazard detection, and search and rescue missions. This paper presents the conceptual design, fabrication, and testing of a new cm-scale wheeled swarm-bot. Simulated investigation of a simple particle-swarm-inspired approach to coordinated path planning for these swarm-bots is also presented. The swarm bot is developed around a modular platform, comprising snap-on (3D printed) structural components, a stepper-motor actuated wheel system, a Raspberry Pi computing node, a wireless radio module, a Lipo battery, and proximity sensors; all components are readily detachable, thereby allowing reconfiguration flexibility. Through three design generations, a stable prototype offering >20cm/s speed and ∼50 min endurance, was developed, assembled and tested. A virtual simulated environment is developed by combining MATLAB-based modules and a V-Rep environment, in order to simulate the coordinated operation of these swarm-bots. A 78% rate of success in completing target (light source) search missions was observed during the numerical experiments, and performance robustness was observed to improve with increasing swarm size.

scholarly journals BioSamplr: An open source, low cost automated sampling system for bioreactors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Efromson ◽  
Shuai Li ◽  
Michael D. Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Sampling System ◽  
Sample Interval ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Bioreactor Experiment ◽  
Log File ◽  
Time Required ◽  
The Cost

AbstractAutosampling from bioreactors reduces error, increases reproducibility and offers improved aseptic handling when compared to manual sampling. Additionally, autosampling greatly decreases the hands-on time required for a bioreactor experiment and enables sampling 24 hrs a day. We have designed, built and tested a low cost, open source, automated bioreactor sampling system, the BioSamplr. The BioSamplr can take up to ten samples from a bioreactor at a desired sample interval and cools them to a desired temperature. The device, assembled from low cost and 3D printed components, is controlled wirelessly by a Raspberry Pi, and records all sampling data to a log file. The cost and accessibility of the BioSamplr make it useful for laboratories without access to more expensive and complex autosampling systems.

scholarly journals Low-Cost Touchscreen Driven Programmable Dual Syringe Pump for Life Science Applications

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina E. Garcia ◽  
Jamin Liu ◽  
Joseph L. DeRisi
Keyword(s):  
Life Science ◽  
Narrow Range ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Stepper Motor ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Syringe Pump ◽  
Motor Controller ◽  
Python Scripting ◽  
A Cell ◽  
3D Printed

AbstractSyringe pumps are powerful tools able to automate routine laboratory practices that otherwise consume large amounts of manual labor time. Commercially available syringe pumps are expensive, difficult to customize, and often preset for a narrow range of operations. Here, we show how to build a programmable dual syringe pump (PDSP) that overcomes these limitations. The PDSP is driven by a Raspberry Pi paired with a stepper motor controller to allow maximal customization via Python scripting. The entire setup can be controlled by a touchscreen for use without a keyboard or mouse. Furthermore, the PDSP is structured around 3D printed parts, enabling users to change any component for their specific application. We demonstrate one application of the PDSP by using it to generate whole cell lysates using a cell homogenizer in an automated fashion.Specifications table

scholarly journals Highly specific, multiplexed isothermal pathogen detection with fluorescent aptamer readout

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren M. Aufdembrink ◽  
Pavana Khan ◽  
Nathaniel J Gaut ◽  
Katarzyna P. Adamala ◽  
Aaron E. Engelhart
Keyword(s):  
Cell Phone ◽  
Pathogen Detection ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
False Positives ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Side Reactions ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
A Cell ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Microplate Reader

AbstractIsothermal, cell-free, synthetic biology-based approaches to pathogen detection leverage the power of tools available in biological systems, such as highly active polymerases compatible with lyophilization, without the complexity inherent to live-cell systems, of which Nucleic Acid Sequence Based Amplification (NASBA) is well known. Despite the reduced complexity associated with cell-free systems, side reactions are a common characteristic of these systems. As a result, these systems often exhibit false positives from reactions lacking an amplicon. Here we show that the inclusion of a DNA duplex lacking a promoter and unassociated with the amplicon, fully suppresses false positives, enabling a suite of fluorescent aptamers to be used as NASBA tags (Apta-NASBA). Apta-NASBA has a 1 pM detection limit and can provide multiplexed, multicolor fluorescent readout. Furthermore, Apta-NASBA can be performed using a variety of equipment, for example a fluorescence microplate reader, a qPCR instrument, or an ultra-low-cost Raspberry Pi-based 3D-printed detection platform employing a cell phone camera module, compatible with field detection.

Evaporation-Based Microfluidic Pump Using Super-Hydrophilic Diatom Biosilica Thin Films

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hunter Jarrett ◽  
Micah Wade ◽  
Joseph Kraai ◽  
Gregory L. Rorrer ◽  
Alan X. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Capillary Tube ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Trace Detection ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Pumping System ◽  
Self Powered ◽  
Microfluidic Pumping

Abstract Diatoms are a group of single-celled photosynthetic algae that use biochemical pathways to bio-mineralize and self-assemble three-dimensional photonic crystals with unique photonic and micro- & nano-fluidic properties. In recent years, diatom biosilica has been used in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) based optofluidic sensors for detection of a variety of chemical and biological molecules. In this paper, we present a study to develop a microfluidic pumping system using super-hydrophilic diatom thin films. The desire to develop such a system stems from the requirement to create a low-cost, self-powered microfluidic pumping system that can sustain a continuous flow over an extended period of time. The diatom biosilica acts not only as the driving force behind the flow, but also serves as ultra-sensitive SERS substrates that allows for trace detection of various molecules. Liquid is drawn from a reservoir to the tip of a 150μm inner diameter capillary tube positioned directly over the diatom film. A thin and long horizontal reservoir is used to prevent flooding on the diatom film when the liquid is initially drawn to the diatom film through a capillary tube from the reservoir. The connection of the meniscus from the capillary to the film was maintained from a horizontal reservoir for a recorded time of 20 hours and 32 minutes before the partially filled reservoir emptied. Flow rates of 0.38, 0.22 and 0.16μL/min were achieved for square biosilica thin films of 49mm2, 25mm2, and 9mm2 at a temperature of 63°F and 45% relative humidity respectively. A temperature-controlled system was introduced for the 49mm2 substrate and flow rates of 0.60, 0.82, 0.93, and 1.15μL/min were observed at 72, 77, 86, and 95°F at 21% relative humidity respectively. More testing and analysis will be performed to test the operation limits of the proposed self-powered microfluidic system.

scholarly journals Modular 3D Printed Compressed Air Driven Continuous-Flow Systems for Chemical Synthesis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Penny, ◽  
Zenobia Rao ◽  
Bruno Peniche ◽  
Stephen Hilton
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Flow System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Circular Disk ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Compressed Air ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Small Footprint ◽  
Control Of Flow

In this present study, we describe the development of a low-cost, small-footprint and modular 3D printed continuous-flow system that readily attaches to existing stirrer hotplates. Flow-rates are controlled by compressed air that is typically present in all fume hoods, making it suitable for use by synthetic chemists. The length of the flow-path and reaction residence time is regulated by control of the air-flow and pressure and by addition of one or more 3D printed polypropylene (PP) circular disk reactors that were designed to fit a DrySyn Multi-E base which is found in most synthetic laboratories. The ease of use of the system, the facile control of flow-rates and the solvent resistance of the PP reactors was demonstrated in a range of SNAr reactions to produce substituted ether derivatives highlighting the utility and modularity of the system.<br>

scholarly journals Modular 3D Printed Compressed Air Driven Continuous-Flow Systems for Chemical Synthesis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Penny, ◽  
Zenobia Rao ◽  
Bruno Peniche ◽  
Stephen Hilton
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Flow ◽  
Flow System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Circular Disk ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Compressed Air ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Small Footprint ◽  
Control Of Flow

In this present study, we describe the development of a low-cost, small-footprint and modular 3D printed continuous-flow system that readily attaches to existing stirrer hotplates. Flow-rates are controlled by compressed air that is typically present in all fume hoods, making it suitable for use by synthetic chemists. The length of the flow-path and reaction residence time is regulated by control of the air-flow and pressure and by addition of one or more 3D printed polypropylene (PP) circular disk reactors that were designed to fit a DrySyn Multi-E base which is found in most synthetic laboratories. The ease of use of the system, the facile control of flow-rates and the solvent resistance of the PP reactors was demonstrated in a range of SNAr reactions to produce substituted ether derivatives highlighting the utility and modularity of the system.<br>

Pioneering Low-Cost 3D-Printed Transtibial Prosthetics to Serve a Rural Population in Sierra Leone

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merel van der Stelt ◽  
Martin P. Grobusch ◽  
Abdul R. Koroma ◽  
Marco Papenburg ◽  
Ismaila Kebbie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Rural Population ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
3D Printed
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